Chapter 408
Chapter 408
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 408
>Chapter Title: The 31st Horse Overturns the Game Board
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Castreng was a massive artery traversing the vast northern lands in all directions. The immense utility it would bring to the north in the future was almost unimaginable.
But every endeavor had its shadows.
“How much farther to the target point?”
“Two hours. We’ll hit it there.”
Riding a wave of public favor, Castreng was expanding at a terrifying pace. A newly launched venture like this was bound to lack solidity.
And so, packs of wolves were bound to exploit those gaps.
Swipe… swish…
Men with grotesque tattoos etched onto their faces using colored pigments.
“Tch… Why do we have to do this crappy disguise? Why mimic those inferior natives?”
“Shut your mouth. From this moment, we’re radical natives opposing Castreng’s expansion.”
“Y-Yes… Right. Of course.”
The man who spat out his complaints snickered.
“That woman Sylvia is a riot. Moving around with just one guard like she’s got no fear.”
“Thanks to that, she’s useful for our purposes, isn’t she?”
“Yeah… True enough. But no other risks, right?”
“None. Checked every cabin. A few drifters snuck in, but nothing to worry about.”
“Hee hee… Train robbery… I like it.”
* * *
The car where Kang Seol’s group was staying buzzed around a round table.
“Apple!”
“Apple again!”
“Apple!”
Tansia cheered wildly every time a fruit card appeared.
The game involved slapping your hand on a card while shouting the fruit’s name when five of the same kind were laid out on the floor.
Whoosh-! Whoosh-!
“Apple!”
Kwaaaang-!
“Uwaaaak!”
Karen’s hand reached the card first, but Tansia’s piled on top, delivering a massive impact.
“Sorry… Karen, did it hurt?”
“Kahaha… Hurt like hell. But I’m fine.”
Tansia nestled into Karen’s arms.
As the twin knights ascended to a higher realm, their sociability trait unlocked.
It was a convenient ability to change outfits with a mere gesture outside of combat.
Even strutting around in armor wouldn’t raise eyebrows among mercenaries these days, but it had restricted their mobility until now.
Now, with heavy steel plates replaced by scraps of cloth brushing their skin, what a liberating feeling.
Of course, having removed their gauntlets left them vulnerable to Tansia’s unintended strikes—a fatal yet minor flaw.
“Grape!”
Kwaaaaang-!
“Kahaha… Hey, can someone check? Feels like the bone’s poking through my hand.”
“…It’s not that bad.”
“…Really?”
“It’s just red.”
Karuna offered awkward comfort, and Ur chuckled.
“At least the cards are safe.”
“……”
Karen made a pouty face.
Ur advised her.
“I could’ve reacted ages ago. But I didn’t. I even accounted for Tansia’s slow response. She’s clumsy, after all.”
“As expected of Ur…”
“We’re on different levels from the start.”
Karen eyed Ur’s smug expression, then checked his spot. Not a single card gathered.
“But then you can’t win?”
“……?”
Tansia pointed and laughed.
“Ahahaha! Ur’s last place! Last!”
Karen grinned.
“You know last place gets forehead smacked, right?”
“……”
“Gotta teach Tansia some control. Or Ur’s brain’ll shrink to walnut size.”
“…Do your best. I’ll go all out too.”
Tansia whined.
“No plums. Where’s the plum?”
Knock knock…
Someone knocked then.
Tansia toddled over and called out.
“Who is it? Who?”
A hesitant voice came from beyond the door.
“Uh… um… well… there’s a kid here.”
Kang Seol stood.
That voice—it was the woman from before.
Karen snarked.
“What now? More trouble? Annoying.”
Kang Seol smiled and opened the door.
Creak…
Sylvia visibly flustered at the sight of him.
“Uh… um…”
- They’re trash races.
- Terrans are cheats!
- Look, tanks can’t hit air units, right?
“Something to say?”
“W-Would you… talk upstairs for a bit?”
“…Pardon?”
A rather bold invitation.
Kang Seol chuckled and nodded.
“See you up there.”
“Then I’ll wait upstairs.”
Sylvia sighed in relief and left.
Castreng was a train blending magic and engineering.
Another car sat atop the passenger cabins, serving as communal space.
For elites, it was teatime; for commoners, mealtime.
“Be right back.”
“Can I come too?”
Kang Seol ruffled Tansia’s hair.
“Stay here, Tansia.”
“Eeng…”
Tansia looked glum, so Karen said,
“Tansia, apple!”
“Apple! Apple!”
Tansia scampered back to the table.
* * *
Step…
Step…
Kang Seol headed upstairs, where Sylvia waited, having secured a spot.
No—given the upscale vibe, it seemed reserved for them alone.
“I prepared some fine liquor…”
“No liquor.”
“Then tea it is.”
As the attendant prepared tea, they gazed out the window.
Hiss…
Snowy mountains and vast nature stretched beyond. The beauty felt graspable, but only Kang Seol savored it.
Sylvia’s chest churned with impatience, blind to the view.
She’d even left her guard Albert downstairs to ease his wariness.
Gulp…
Heavy silence hung.
Sylvia mulled greetings.
Then, her late grandfather’s words surfaced.
- If it’s a seat for apologies, start with that, dear.
This time, she’d trust him.
“I… was rude before, wasn’t I?”
Kang Seol blinked at her demeanor.
“Rude? Oh…”
“Please forgive me. Being in foreign lands made me touchy.”
Kang Seol harbored no grudge, so he nodded.
“Sure.”
Sylvia squeezed her eyes shut.
In her heart, she thanked her grandfather.
“I’m Sylvia.”
“Kang Seol.”
“Your name… oh, you’re a mercenary. What brings you to the Federation?”
“Just… traveling.”
Sylvia updated her mental file on him.
Scales faction guest.
Tycoon with ample time.
Falling out with such types spelled trouble.
“Know anyone in the Federation?”
“Not really.”
“Uh… any ties?”
“Nope.”
“Ah! If our destinations align, I could show you around…”
Kang Seol smiled.
“Appreciate it, but big group. You’d tire out.”
“No, no! My family knows the Federation’s news and culture inside out… anytime, just say…”
“I’ll keep it in mind.”
Her response felt genuine.
Clearly no stranger to such deference.
At least the Scales connection wasn’t bluff.
“Why ride Castreng?”
“Can’t we?”
“Not that… but incidents lately.”
“Incidents?”
“Yes, natives who despise Castreng as a relic of civilization… they’ve protested violently. Central region tales—I don’t know details.”
“I see… Natives mean minority tribes?”
“Yes, know of them?”
Kang Seol recalled someone.
‘Jin Ryeo was from a minority tribe.’
He let go of the image of her napping peacefully in Khan.
“Know one from there.”
“Oh… broad circle of friends.”
“Do civilized folk hate minority tribes?”
“The unreasonable ones. Especially on Jin matters—they’re so reckless…”
Kang Seol and Sylvia chatted on various topics.
Interestingly, Kang Seol’s broad northern knowledge matched Sylvia’s common sense.
Her expression softened more with realization.
His vibe shifted from boorish mercenary to man with a story.
In truth, the Black Labyrinth and successive events had transformed his aura.
“The north has issues.”
“Yes… New drugs from who-knows-where, bloated crime syndicates. Federation dissolution rumors, border tensions.”
Sylvia leaned closer.
“And the Wigel Teng problem.”
“Wigel Teng?”
“Didn’t know? Their trolls are infamous…”
“Problems?”
“Plenty. Endless stories.”
Kang Seol’s face shifted slightly.
“Hm… Save that for later. Seems they’re calling me below.”
“Oh? Then this talk…”
“Yeah, next time. Enjoyed it.”
“Yes, let’s… talk again.”
“Looking forward. Well…”
Kang Seol departed.
Sylvia stared at his empty seat, then returned to her cabin.
Albert eyed her in the chair.
“The talk…?”
“Yeah, sorted. Didn’t bring up Scales…”
“Shame…”
“Cut short suddenly… something must’ve…”
Then, Sylvia’s expression changed like Kang Seol’s had.
“Hey, Albert.”
“…Yes.”
“The teacup handle’s turned wrong. Told you I hate it like that.”
“You… did.”
“…So you didn’t forget.”
“Yes.”
Thump… thump…
Her heart pounded wildly, loud enough to worry it’d leap out.
Turning the handle leftward to hinder grip.
A signal.
Imminent danger.
Luckily, a thigh-holstered pistol hid in her skirt folds—custom workshop job.
Her hand drifted there naturally.
But.
Click…
“Hands. Don’t move.”
A powder-loaded revolver pressed her temple.
Her heart chilled.
A hot seller among Federation arms dealers lately.
“Good girl. Scream, and everyone dies—just order changes.”
Sylvia glared fiercely at the gunman.
“How…”
“No resistance, no harm.”
“Who… are you?”
“Can’t tell? Natives hating Castreng. Robbery for ransom and fun.”
Lies.
Too refined for natives. Even a faint sweet fruit scent.
“Liar…”
“Kekeke… Why? I confessed.”
Sylvia acted bold.
Thud.
She sat, bit a fruit.
“What’s… your game?”
“Many thoughts. Future, hatred. That sort.”
“…Targeting me?”
“Mishen heir was prime… Gotta warn Castreng riders too. Train’s unsafe now.”
“Don’t… touch passengers!”
Smack-!
“Euk…”
“No touching the lady!”
Man grabbed Sylvia’s hair, finger to lips—shush gesture.
“Don’t order me. We decide spares. Useful now, so alive. Till next stop? Who knows.”
At least alive for now—small mercy.
Her mind spun.
Ways out.
Security?
‘No… Too awkward spot for aid.’
Midway between stations.
Too far for response.
Their unchallenged entry meant onboard security neutralized.
‘Of course… Bold enough for this, guards no match.’
Overextension’s backlash.
‘No, they’ve eyed this.’
Think—alternatives.
The man across flashed. That odd-feeling guy.
‘No way he’s involved…’
Then.
“Musk.”
“What.”
The Albert-subduer addressed Musk.
“Lost contact with across.”
“…Don’t joke.”
“Someone check direct.”
“Hmph, fine.”
As they grabbed the opposite door.
Creak…
It opened.
In that instant, Castreng’s invaders hid.
Cabin seemed empty save Albert and Sylvia.
A masked white-haired man entered.
“Noisy. Trouble?”
Half-familiar tone aside, danger loomed.
“It’s…”
Then.
Shadow over the window he stood by.
Shattering glass to snatch him.
Sylvia noticed, yelled.
“Hey! Danger—!”
That instant.
Cracklecraaack-!
Boom-!
“Kuh…”
Window frosted; would-be shatterers rebounded.
Ur smiled.
“Knew it. Same here.”
“Die!”
Bang-!
Fired shot from sofa—aimed at Ur.
Crackle…
Bullet froze midair against icy veil.
“Wh-What!”
Smack-!
Ur seized the man’s collar.
“U… ugh… cold…”
Crackle…
Man iced over, dropped.
Thud!
Click…
Reloaded gun to Sylvia’s head. Musk’s.
Musk gritted.
“Don’t move. Or the girl…”
“Who’s she to you?”
“…What?”
“Who is that woman to you?”
Musk faltered, steadied aim.
“Once is luck, you…”
Whish-!
Smaaack-!
“Kraaaak!”
Something flew, stabbed shoulder.
Precise muscle hit dropped his gun.
Thud…
“…A card?”
Illustrated card lodged in shoulder.
Ur grinned.
“Tansia, your missing plum was there.”
Thud thud thud thud…
Something charged at speed.
“Pluuuum!”
“Wh-What…”
Kwaaaaang-!
Whooooosh…
Tansia’s fist-launched man shattered glass, plummeted out.
Whoooosh…
Wind rushed in.
Crackle…
Ur sealed with frost.
Sylvia and Albert gawked.
Creak…
Karen entered opposite door.
“All clear. Quiet now. Huh?”
Karen eyed Tansia and broken window.
“Tansia, your doing?”
Tansia scratched head.
“My fault… plum’s gone…”